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Due to a lapse in appropriations, the NRC has ceased normal operations. However, excepted and exempted activities necessary to maintain critical health and safety functions—as well as essential progress on designated critical activities, including those specified in Executive Order 14300—will continue, consistent with the OMB-Approved NRC Lapse Plan.

Event Notification Report for May 20, 2016

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
05/19/2016 - 05/20/2016

** EVENT NUMBERS **


51919 51920 51921 51944

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Agreement State Event Number: 51919
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: NOT PROVIDED
Region: 4
City: FORT WORTH State: TX
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: IRENE CASARES
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD 		Notification Date: 05/11/2016
Notification Time: 19:11 [ET]
Event Date: 12/02/2015
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/11/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
 Person (Organization):
VIVIAN CAMPBELL (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION EVENT

The following information was received via E-mail:

"On May 11, 2016, the licensee's radiation safety officer reported an unplanned contamination event which occurred on December 2, 2015. The RSO stated he did not think this was a reportable event until his medical physicist instructed him to report the incident. During treatment of a patient, a radioactive capsule of I-131 was provided to a patient. The patient had problems swallowing the capsule. The patient eventually chewed the capsule and in the minutes following had an episode, expelling the capsule and other bodily fluids. The bodily fluid was collected in a bag, although some of the fluid dripped onto the floor. The droplets which fell on the floor were collected and placed in a collection bag. The floor was cleaned and the bag containing all the waste items was taken to nuclear medicine for decay prior to disposal. The area was covered with an adsorbent pad. Readings on the surface were 38 mR/hr and 1.8 mR/hr at one meter. A mobile lead wall/shield was put in place to restrict the area. Radiation caution signs were also placed in the area with a do not enter sign on the door leading to the room. The room remained restricted for more than 24 hours. On February 25, 2016 the area was released at background readings. As of March 25, 2016 the waste bag remains in storage awaiting disposal.

"The Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] has withheld the name of the licensee in accordance with Texas state law."

Texas Incident #: I-9401

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Agreement State Event Number: 51920
Rep Org: OHIO BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: CTL ENGINEERING, INC.
Region: 3
City: COLUMBUS State: OH
County:
License #: 312100250018
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: STEPHEN JAMES
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO 		Notification Date: 05/11/2016
Notification Time: 17:37 [ET]
Event Date: 04/14/2016
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/11/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
 Person (Organization):
ERIC DUNCAN (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
ILTAB (EMAI)

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3 " level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - THEFT AND RECOVERY OF A PORTABLE GAUGE

The following information was received by email:

"On 4/13/16 CPN Model MC Series gauge was left in marked licensee vehicle parked outside technician's home in Columbus at end of work day, reportedly properly secured in vehicle with two independent locking devices. Gauge contains 10 mCi Cs-137 and 50 mCi Am-241:Be sources.

"Technician found gauge missing when came out to go to work on 4/14/16. Technician claims RSO was notified, RSO does not recall. No police report was filed and no report was made to ODH [Ohio Department of Health] at that time.

"On 5/10/16, gauge was found in vacant lot during separate police investigation. Police called fire department HAZMAT unit. Transport case was not locked, but gauge rod was locked. Licensee was identified by paperwork in the transport case. Licensee was contacted by fire department to retrieve gauge. Licensee RSO took possession of gauge and returned it to office in Columbus.

"On 5/11/16 licensee reported theft and recovery of gauge to ODH. ODH investigators visited site to determine cause of incident and reasons for lack of notifications."

Ohio Item Number: OH160003

THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

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Agreement State Event Number: 51921
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: MISTRAS GROUP INC
Region: 4
City: TEXAS CITY State: TX
County:
License #: 06369
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KAREN BLANCHARD
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD 		Notification Date: 05/11/2016
Notification Time: 18:48 [ET]
Event Date: 05/11/2016
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/13/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
 Person (Organization):
VIVIAN CAMPBELL (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (NMSS)
PATRICIA MILLIGAN (NSIR)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - POTENTIAL OVEREXPOSURE TO RAD WORKER

The following information was received via E-mail:

"On May 11, 2016, the licensee called the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] to report a potential overexposure. The licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) had only initial information at the time of the report. He reported one of the licensee's radiographers had taped the guide tube (with collimator attached) to a jig in order to perform an exposure. During the exposure, the guide tube fell. The radiographer failed to retract the source before he walked to the end of the guide tube, picked it up, and taped it back on the jig. The RSO is investigating to get the details of the event. The radiographer's dosimetry badge has been sent for immediate processing. The radiographer was using a QSA 880D device with a 34.8 Curie iridium-192 source. More information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident #: I-9402

* * * UPDATE FROM KAREN BLANCHARD TO VINCE KLCO AT 5/13/16 AT 1700 EDT * * *

The following information was received from the State of Texas by email:

"UPDATE: Licensee completed a re-enactment of the situation using video tape and empty camera with attachments. The re-enactment demonstrated that the person placed his left hand on the collimator and included inserting his middle finger into the port hole on the collimator. The RSO completed dose calculations of 467 Rem to the finger. The badge results displayed 307 mRem whole body dose. The badge was worn for approximately eight days for this month. The finger appears to show slight redness, otherwise no visible effects at present time (3 days after event). Blood work was drawn and the person is scheduled for another doctor visit on Monday. The Agency has not received the detailed calculations and has not concurred with this dose estimate. Another update will be provided as information is acquired."

Notified the R4DO (Campbell). Notified NMSS Events, Angela McIntosh and Patricia Milligan via email.

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Part 21 Event Number: 51944
Rep Org: NUCLEAR LOGISTICS INC
Licensee: NUCLEAR LOGISTICS INC
Region: 4
City: FORT WORTH State: TX
County: TARRANT
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TRACY BOLT
HQ OPS Officer: RICHARD SMITH 		Notification Date: 05/19/2016
Notification Time: 19:17 [ET]
Event Date: 05/18/2016
Event Time: [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/19/2016
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
21.21(a)(2) - INTERIM EVAL OF DEVIATION
 Person (Organization):
GEOFFREY MILLER (R4DO)
GEORGE HOPPER (R2DO)
PART 21/50.55 REACT (EMAI)

Event Text

PART 21 INTERIM EVALUATION OF A DEVIATION - CONTACTOR FAILURE

The following was received via FAX:

On May 18, 2016, Nuclear Logistics INC. (NLI) determined that a contactor failure that occurred at the Shearon Harris plant had failed due to an auxiliary contact chatter present on the seal-in circuit for the coil voltage. The auxiliary contact chatter was caused by the loss of the shading
coils. NLI will be submitting a full report on the issue to the NRC within 60 days.

The contactor that failed was a Size 4 Eaton Freedom Series with a special coil for degraded voltage condition.

Reference Number: P21-05192016

NLI reported that the following plants have these types of contactor's:

Region 2: Oconee, Turkey Point, Shearon Harris and North Anna

Region 4: Columbia and Waterford

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021